Live Review: Prom Night with Allen Stone @ The Crocodile 5/2/13

“Welcome to Prom Night Class of 2013” read the banner displayed high above the dance floor at the Crocodile Café. People celebrated the night, the official lineup release party for Bumbershoot 2013, hanging over the balcony, dressed fancy, their hair done, jewelry around their necks, cheering for soul singer (and Bumbershoot performer) Allen Stone to sing.

When Stone hit the stage at 9 pm, he was met with welcoming shrieks. Adorned in top hat and tails, amber sunglasses and his trademark wide-mouth grin, Stone opened the set with his song “What I’ve Seen.” He toggled between original tunes and covers, from Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” to Bob Marley’s “Is This Love” to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Stay Together”.

The show premiered the 2013 Bumbershoot lineup, highlighted by Heart, Death Cab for Cutie, Sallie Ford, Kendrick Lamar, Fun, !!!, Charles Bradley and MGMT. Local bands like Ayron Jones and The Way, Red Jacket Mine and Kris Orlowski will also be playing the festival, which begins August 31st and concludes September 2nd. To see the whole lineup, visit http://bumbershoot.org.

When you walked into the Crocodile on Thursday night, the first thing you did, if you were game for the Prom-themed evening (and why wouldn’t you be??), was get your picture taken with your date. People joked as they waited in line for the photos, “Oh my gosh, I told my mom I was sleeping at Tiffany’s house, and Tiffany told her mom she was sleeping at my house! We’re going to stay out all night!” There was a wheel attendees could spin to win candy, mystery prize or Bumbershoot posters. There was a punch bowl, tuxedo t-shirts and pastel balloons.

“The Mother Ship is ready,” exclaimed keys player Mark Sampson on stage from behind dark glasses. This received a loud round of applause from the hyped audience. The six-piece band was excellently rehearsed, keeping the crowd moving the whole night. “This is something we invented,” said Stone, “the Universal Sway. To left, the right! Let’s see it Seattle!”

After the first set, energetic and full of dancing, the band took a break and the official 2013 Bumbershoot lineup video was played. Then the audience elected a Prom King and Queen as dj100proof spun records in the background. Stone came on stage for a second set, culminating with an encore – a cover of TLC’s “Waterfalls”, rap and all.

A second Prom night is slated for tonight at The Crocodile with the golden-locked Stone performing again for his hometown, gussied-up fans.